Burner valves for compressed gaseous fuels



Aug. 28, 1962 j GQDDARD 3,050,973

BURNER VALVES FOR COMPRESSED GASEOUS FUELS Filed Jan. 21, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet 1 fiy I N VE N TO R L/OHN A NSEL GODDARD.

ATTY.

Aug. 28, 1962 J. A. GODDARD BURNER VALVES FOR COMPRESSED GASEOUS FUELSFiled Jan. 21, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JbHA/ANJELA GODDA EU3,050,973 BURNER VALVES FOR COMPRESSED GASEOUS FUELS John AnsellGoddard, Ashtead, England, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Ronson Corporation, Woodbridge, N.J., acorporation of New Jersey Filed lien. 21, 1958, Ser. No. 710,348 Claimspriority, application Great Britain Jan. 29, 1957 (Jlairns. (Cl. 67-7.1)

The present invention relates to burner valves for apparatus employingas fuel a compressed gas such as butane and is concerned in particularwith burner valves for compressed gas-fueled smokers lighters, candles,tableburners (i.e. plate warmers), sterilizers and like apparatus.

The chief object of the present invention is the provision of animproved burner valve for apparatus of the type referred to such thatthe flame can be adjusted by the user of the apparatus to which thevalve is fitted to suit various atmospheric conditions and according tothe use to which the apparatus is to be put.

According to the present invention the improved burner valve comprisestwo members between which a Wick supplied with fuel in liquid form isadapted to be compressed in such a manner as to provide a continuouscompression zone between said members, one of said members having anaperture through it located within said compression zone, means forcontrolling the flow of fuel through said aperture, an adjusting memberfor movin said apertured member relatively to the other member and alost motion device interposed between said adjusting member and saidapertured member whereby the degree of compression.

applied to the wick may be varied within fine limits.

In the operation of the valve the amount of liquid fuel supplied to thecompression zone is varied by adjustment of the members relatively toone another and the fuel trapped within the compression zone evaporatesfrom the wick and proceeds to the burner valve orifice if permitted todo so by the means for controlling the flow of fuel through the aperturein the apertured member.

In one form of valve according to the present invention the aperturedmember may be in the form of an orifice bush fitted within a burnernozzle so as to be capable of movement therewith, the burner nozzlebeing axially movable relatively to an adjusting bush threaded into theburner housing and having splined engagement with an adjusting member.In this form of the invention the lost motion device is in the form of aresilient washer located between one end of the adjusting bush and aflange on the burner nozzle. Preferably the resilient washer bears onone face of a ball race the other face of which bears on the flange onthe burner nozzle.

In order that the present invention may be more clearly understood itwill now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings whichillustrate by way of example two constructional forms of burner valveaccording to the present invention for a smokers lighter, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a part sectional view of one constructional form of valveaccording to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating one Way in which movement ofthe adjusting member may be limited, and

FIG. 3 is a part sectional view of another or modified constructionalform of valve according to the present invention.

In the constructional form of valve according to the present inventionshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings the burner valve comprises acompression member 1 which may or may not be fixed in position and acompression member 2 in the form of an orifice bush. The member 2 isslidable axially within the valve housing 3 trite tates Patent 03,056,973 Patented Aug. 28, 1962 and is fitted Within a burner nozzle 4so as to be capable of movement therewith. The burner nozzle 4 is alsofreely movable axially within the valve housing 3 and within acompression adjusting member shown in the form of a bush 5 which hasthreaded engagement with the valve housing 3 at 6 and splined engagementas shown at 7 with an adjusting wheel 8 rotatable about the longitudinalaxis of the valve. The valve housing 3 is recessed on its outerperiphery as shown at 9 to accommodate a spring clip 10 which alsoengages a recess 11 in the adjusting wheel 8 to retain it in position.

As shown in FIG. 1 the upper surface of the member 1 is flat whilst thelower co-operating surface of the member or orifice bush 2 is coned asshown at 12 and provided with a central cone shaped aperture 13. Themember 2 j is thereby provided with an annular zone 14 between which andthe flat surface of the member 1 a wick 15 provided with liquid fuelfrom the reservoir of the lighter is adapted to be compressed. Themember 2 is also provided with a peripheral recess 16 within which asealing washer 17 is located to prevent passage of gas fuel between themember 2 and the housing 3.

If desired the wick 15 may be held in place against the member 1 by aclamping ring 18 which is movable from the position shown in full linesto the position shown in dot-and-pick lines to permit removal orreplacement of the wick 15.

Located within an axial bore 19 in the member 2 and burner nozzle 4 is astem 20 provided at its lower end with a disc 21 for co-operating withthe aperture 13 to control the flow of fuel to the outlet from theburner nozzle 4.

22 is a resilient Washer which bears with one face against the lower endof the adjusting bush 5 and with its other face against one face of aball race 23 ,the other face of which bears against a flange 24extending peripherally from the burner nozzle. 4, the flange 24, ballrace 23 and washer 22 being housed within an enlargement 25 in thehousing 3.

In this form of the invention the stem 20 is adapted to be held downwith the disc 21 closing the aperture 13 by means of a snuffer cap 26pivotally mounted between cars 27 on the lighter body and the adjustingWheel 8 is provided with a stop 28 which in one position of the wheel 3engages one ear 27. This position represents the maximum flame heightwhich is obtainable. It is also to be noted that the stop 28 limits themovement of the adjusting wheel 8 in the other direction by contactingthe other ear 27 and prevents the possibility of damage to the wick byexcessive movement of the member 2. If desired a spring loaded ball maybe provided on the snuffer cap 26 for engagement with stem 20 asdescribed in the specification of US. Patent No. 2,620,643 to ensurethat an excessive pressure is not brought to bear on the disc 21 whilstallowing the body of the cap 26 to shut right against the adjustingwheel 8 to exclude dirt or the like.

By means of the resilient washer 22 a certain amount of lost motion isprovided in the sense that when the adjusting wheel 8 is rotated tocause the bush 5 to move downwardly in the housing 3 the washer 22 isdeformed and thus a comparatively large rotary movement-of the bush 5results in a much smaller axial movement of the member 2 and gives asteady and progressive flame height adjustment. l

The effect of the ball race 23 is to reduce considerably the Wear anddistortion of the resilient washer 22 caused bythe twisting motioninduced by the rotation of the bush 5. The ball race 23 also reduces thetendency for the burner nozzle 4 and member 2 to rotate duringadjustment of the valve.

The operation of assembling the parts of a valve as described is quitesimple and consists of placing the wick upon the member 1 and pullingdown clamping ring 18. The burner nozzle 4 is then fitted, followed byresilient washer 22 and ball race 23 and adjusting bush 5. The housing 3can then be screwed into the lighter casing even if the flint wheel andsnuffer cap are in position.

-- The lighter is filled with fuel, the bush 5 positioned until adesired flame height is obtained, whereupon the adjusting wheel 8 issnapped into position with the retaining clip iii, the stop 28 beingpositioned against the, front fulcrum ear 27' of the lighter.

which the same reference numerals as used in FIG. 1 have been used todesignate corresponding parts, the adjusting bush 5 is provided with anextension 29 shaped to provide the burner nozzle 4 instead of the burnernozzle being fitted to the member or orifice bush 2 as shown in theconstructional form of burner valve shown in PEG. 1. In view of this theflange 24 is provided on the member 2 which is suitably lengthened forthe purpose.

These modifications assist in servicing of the burner v valve since thestem 2a carrying the disc 21 can be replaced simply by removing theadjusting bush 5.

In this constructional form of the invention also two resilient washers22 are employed between the adjusting bush 5 and the upper face of theball race 23 whilst a further resilient washer 3i? is provided betweenthe lower face of the flange 24 and the co-operating face of the housing3. It is found that the resilient washer 36 assists in smooth upwardmovement of the member 2 when the adjusting wheel 8 is appropriatelymoved.

Yet another modification which is embodied in the constructional form ofburner valve shown in FIG. 3 as compared with the constructional form ofburner valve shown in FIG. 1 is in respect of the member 1. In thelatter constructional form of burner valve the upper surface of themember 1 is flat whereas in the constructional form shown in FIG. 3 theupper surface of the member 1 is recessed as shown at 31 to accommodatea ball 32, e.g. a steel ball, between the spheroidal surface of whichand the member 2 the wick is located. The advantage of using a ball isthat owing to the convexity of its surface there is less liability forthe wick to pucke'r when the member 2 is moved relatively thereto andfurthermore the use of a ball aifor-ds the simplest way of providing aperfectly smooth surface for co-operation with the wick. However, theprovision of a spheroidal surface by any other method will suflice.

if desired a helical spring may be arranged behind or around the ball32to give a resiliency to the wick and to help lift the member 2 but it isfound that if a resilient washer is provided such a spring is notgenerally necessary for satisfactory functioning of the burner valve.

The resilient washer or washers 22 may be of any convenient form forexample of rubber, fabric or composition and even split-ring type steelWashers may be used although the use of washers of the last mentionedtype is not found to be as satisfactory as the use of rubber, fabric orcomposition washers.

Whilst the ball race 23 is thought at present to be necessary for mosteflicient-functioning of a burner valve according to the presentinvention it is believed that the valve would function without italthough without the bail race 23 there might be a tendency for themember or orifice bush 2 to twist when moved downwardly and cause thewick to be cut or nicked or bunched, both of which are undesirable. V

I claim:

1. A burner valve for cigar lighters and the like utilizing compressedgaseous fuels such as butane, having a housing, compression memberscarred by said housing and having a compressible fuel conducting bodyinterposed therebetween, means mounting at least one of said compressionmembers for movement toward and from the other, a compression adjustingmember, means mounting said adjusting member for movement toward andfrom said movably mounted compression members, and means fortransmitting pressure from said compression adjusting member to saidlast mentioned compression member, including a resilient washerinterposed therebetween in position to be deformed to a greater orlesser extent as said adjusting member moves toward and from said lastmentioned compression member, means for relieving the compressionapplied to said fuel conducting body when said compression adjustingmember is moved away from said last mentioned compression member,comprising a second resilient washer which is compressed when saidcompression adjusting member is moved toward said last mentionedcompression member and means between said resilient washers minimizingwear and distortion thereon due to movement of said compressionadjusting member.

2. A burner valve for cigar lighters and the like utilizing compressedgaseous fuels such as butane, having a housing about an axis,compression members carried by said housing and having a compressiblefuel conducting body interposed therebetween, a compression zone betweensaid compression members, one of said compression members having anaperature therethrough which is located within the compression zone ofsaid members, said apertured compression member being slidable axiallyin said valve housing and having a peripherally extending flangeassociated therewith, member threadedly mounted in said housing andmeans for transmitting pressure from said compression adjusting memberto said apertured compression member including a resilient washerinterposed between said compression adjusting member and said flange,and a ball race also interposed between said compression adjustingmember and said flange.

3. A burner valve for cigar lighters and the like utilizing compressedgaseous fuel such as butane, having a housing about an axis, compressionmembers carried by said housing and having a compressible fuelconducting body interposed therebetween, a compression zone between saidcompression members, one of said compression members having an aperturetherethrough which is located within the compression zone of saidmembers, said apertured compression member being slidable axially insaid valve housing and having a peripherally extending flange associatedtherewith, a compression adjusting member threadedly mounted in saidhousing and means for transmitting pressure from said compressionadjusting member to said apertured compression member including aresilient washer interposed between said compression adjusting memberand said flange, and a second resilient washer interposed between saidflange and said housing, in position to relieve the compression appliedto said fuel conducting body when said compression adjusting member ismoved away from said apertured compression member.

4. A burner valve for cigar lighters and the like utilizing compressedgaseous fuels such as butane, having a housing about an axis,compression members carried by said housing and having a compressiblefuel conducting body disposed to be acted upon thereby upon relativemovement of said compression members toward and from one another, acompression zone between said compression members, one of saidcompression members having an aperture therethrough which is locatedwithin the compression zone of said members and having a peripherallyextending flange associated therewith, means for mounting said aperturedcompression member for axial sliding movement in said valve housingtowards a compression adjustingv and from the other of said compressionmembers, a pressure adjusting member, means mounting said adjustingmember for movement towards and from said movably mounted compressionmember, and means for transmitting pressure from said compressionadjusting member to said apertured compression member including aresilient washer interposed between said compression adjusting memberand said flange and deformable to a greater or lesser extent as saidadjusting member moves towards and from said last mentioned compressionmember thereby providing a lost motion connection therebetween.

5. A burner valve for cigar lighters and the like utilizing compressedgaseous fuels such as butane, having a housing about an axis,compression members carried by said housing and having a compressiblefuel conducting body disposed to be acted upon thereby upon relativemovement of said compression members towards and from one another, acompression zone between said compression members, one of saidcompression members having an aperture therethrough which is locatedWithin the compression zone of said members and having a peripherallyextending flange associated therewith, means for mounting said aperturedcompression member for axial sliding movement in said valve housingtowards and from the other of said compression members, a pressureadjusting member, means mounting said adjusting member for movementtowards and from said slidably mounted compression member, means fortransmitting pressure from said compression adjusting member to saidapertured compression member including a resilient washer interposedbetween said compression adjusting member and said flange and deformableto a greater or lesser extent as said adjusting member moves towards andfrom said last mentioned compression member thereby providing a lostmotion connection therebetween, the remaining compression member withwhich the aforesaid movably mounted compression member cooperates havinga spheroidal surface, said fuel conducting body being compressed betweensaid spheroidal surface and said movably mounted compression member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,515,999 Clark Nov. 18, 1924 1,716,449 Laughlin et a1 June 11, 19291,784,853 Tiffany Dec. 16, 1930 1,847,911 Trane Mar. 1, 1932 1,880,177Kohler et al Sept. 27, 1932 1,936,325 Carson Nov. 21, 1933 2,743,597Newman May 1, 1956 2,737,037, Zellweger Mar. 6, 1956 2,756,771 SpencerJuly 31, 1956 2,783,773 Rasch Mar. 5, 1957 2,804,763 Russell et al.Sept. 3, 1957 2,836,044 Zellweger May 27, 1958 2,895,318 Zellweger July21, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,081,399 France June 9, 1954 544,524 GreatBritain Apr. 16, 1942 683,387 Great Britain Nov. 26, 1952 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N0,, 3,050373 August 281962 John Ansell Goddard It is hereby certified that error appears inthe above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said LettersPatent should read. as corrected below.

Column'l line 1, for "carred" read carried ---5 line 7 for "members readmember same column 4, line 29 for "aperature" read aperture Signed andsealed this 1st day of January 1963a (SEAL) fittest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

